Ballast tamping machine



Jan. 2, 1951 F. H. PHILBRICK BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheefc 1 Filed .Oct. 1, 1945 Jan. 2, 1951 F. H. PHILBRICK BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1945 Jan. 2, 1951 Fl H. PHILBRICK BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 1, 1945 M. mm QM \G. 0 NM. O NNI F m% an 5* WME f Mv mm k, w% v, mm 9w mm QN QN M v %N M, M. N MW N NW Jan. 2, 1951 F. H. PHILBRICK 2,536,887

BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 2, 1951 F. H. PHILBRICK 2,536,887

BALLAST TAMPING MACHINE 5 SheetsTSheet 5 Filed Oct. 1, 1945 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALLAST. 'IZAMPING MAGH-IN E Frank H. Philbri'ck, Chicago, Ill.

ApplicationQctcher 1, 1945,.Serial= N10. 6193585 11. Claims. 1'

The. invention relates. to ballast. tamping mar chines and more. particularly to. the; type which adapted to. pack the ballast under; the ties.

One object of the invention is to. provide a. ballast tamping machine which includes means. for positively controlling, the movements of. the. tamping elements. in. paths. for packing the. ballast under the ties.

Another object of. the invention is to provide a. ballast tamping machine. or thedrop hammer type. which includes. elements for tamping the. ballast under. the. ties, andwhich includes. means. positively guiding. the. tamping. elements. in vertical. paths at. the sides of. a. tie and. then in. anarcuate. path, to' pack. the ballast under the. tie.

Another. object of the inventionis to provide a ballast. tamping machine of drop hammer type which is efiicicnt in operation.

Other. objects of the. invention will appear from. the detailed description.

The. invention consists in the several features herei'nafiter set forth and. more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofia machine exemplifying the invention. 7

Fig. 2' is a longitudinal section of" a. portion of the frame, illustrating the tamping elements in their-raised position.

Fig. 3 is a similar section. illu-stratingthe tamping elements in their dropped position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4*-4 of Fig. 21.

Fig; 5 is; a perspective of the crosshead which functions as a drophammer and carries the tamping elements.

Fig. 6 isa vertical section, illustrating the liftmechanism for operating the crosshead.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the Iinlecon necti'ons and rollers for co-acting with: stationary cam tracks: to control the path of movement of thctamping elements.

Fig. 8 is: a: perspective of the portion of" the frame structure in which the cross-head i'sguided and thestationary cam-structure for guidingthe tamping elements.

The machine of the inventionis ex'e-impl ifi'cd on a; truck or car which comprises a truck-frame ll), which is supported on wheels F2 for traveling onthe rails or of a railway track. An internal combustion motor M is mounted on frame H? with. the usual accessories and transmission for drive ing the truck wheels I 2, as well understood" in the art:

The tampmg elements; are-operable bye:

2 head. generally designated I6, which extends transversely of the truck. and. is mounted. to. slide. vertically in channel-guides 16. which. are fixedly supported on the frame is... lhis crosshead carries, the tamping elements and functions. as. a. drop hammer for operating. said elements to. tamp the ballast under the ties b on which the. rails. awarev laid. Guides l8 are fixedly secured to. side-beams ll of frame ill. through plates 20. The. upper ends. of guides l8- arerigidly cross-connected by channel. beams. 2.2. to provide a rigid structure. in which the crosshead. i6. is verticallyslidable. The frame includes transverse beams. I"! which are secured to side-beams H. and. are.-

" spaced apart for the operation between. them of the. crosshead IE. and the. tamping elements.

Crossheadi I6 is operable by power from. the motor [4 through. mechanism which lifts. said crosshead andthen releases. it for a drop-hammer. stroke. This mechanism comprises a. transverse. shaft 24. which. is journalled in. bearing. brackets 26 which. are supported. ona cross-beam 230i. the frame. structure and a sprocket. wheel 30. fixed to shaft 24,, which is driven by a. chain 3L which. driven by suitable speed reducing. mechanism from. the motor 1 3.. Intermittent movement. is. imparted to crosshead 1.6. from shaft 24.- by a. pair of link-chains 33, which are driven by sprockets 34' which are fixed to shaft 24;; Chains 33' pass. around lower idler sprockets 35. Rollers 38 carried by chains 3.3 are adapted to engagev ,abutments 39.0.11. one side of crosshead I6. Each idler sprocket 36 is preferably journalled on alever 40' which is fulcrumed at 5| on one of. the beams l1 and has connected thereto a spring 42' for maintaining its chain 33 taut. As the aligned: rollers 38 on chains 33 during upward travel, engage the abutments 39, they will lift the crosshead. l6 until said rollers in their travel around sprockets 3.4 release. abutments 3'9 and permit crosshead; [6 to drop and impart a hammer stroke. to the tamping elements carried thereby,.as hereinafter" described. In this manner, the aligned. rollers 3'8" on each chain 33' impart intermittent hiting-strokes. to crosshead l6. Crosshead I 6 is providedwith vertical grooves 44 for clearing the. chains 33 during the dropping of said. crosshead. and with a vertical groove 45 for clearing the sprocket wheel 39.0n shaft 24.

A gang of tamping elements or tools is provided. at each side of crosshead [6. These elements; are

I exemplified by shoes 46 which are provided with;

of an arm 49 which is integral with and on the lower end of the crosshead I6. The tamping elements of the gangs on opposite sides of the crosshead are disposed in opposed relation to one another and descend at the opposite sides of the tie b, to swing toward each other for packing the ballast between them under the tie. Teeth 50 are preferably curved inwardly to reach under the tie.

The invention includes mechanism for positively guiding the gangs of tamping element on the opposite sides of the crosshead Hi to impart vertical movement to them while the teeth 50 on the opposed shoes 46 are above the ballast and to swing toward each other to tamp the ballast under the tie. Each shoe 45 is provided with an upstanding integral arm 52 at one side of the crosshead. The shoes 46 of each gang are connected for conjoint swinging movement by a cross-shaft 53. Each cross-shaft 53 is connected by a link 54 composed of two parallel members to a pivot pin 56 which is carried in the lower end of a pair of depending links 58, the upper ends of which are rigidly connected to a shaft 59 which is journalled in lugs 6t which are integral with crosshead IS. A roller 62 is journalled on each cross-shaft 53 and a roller 64 is journalled on each pin 56 between the members of link 5,4. The depending links 58 function as suspension links for pivot pins 55 and rollers 66. Links t function as connecting or thrust links between the suspension links 58 and rollers 54 and 62 on shaft 53. Links 54 and 58 operate as a toggle linkage between the arms 52' and crosshead H5.

The swinging movement of the gang of tamping elements is controlled by a single track-structure which is provided with rectilinear and cam members and which is stationarily supported on the supporting frame substantially at the transverse center of the crosshead. This structure includes inner and outer cams for engaging rollers 62 and 64, respectively, for both gangs of tamping elements. This cam-structure includes a post 56, the upper end of which is rigidly upported by brackets 6! which are secured between the upper beams 22 of the supporting frame structure. Post 66 extends through a vertical opening 68 in crosshead IS. The lower portion of post 66 is provided with downwardly divergent cams 69 for engaging rollers 54 which are supported by suspension links 58. Upstanding members 10, integral with and connected to the lower end of post 56 by a base member 31, are engaged by rollers '52 and the lower portions of said members are provided with downwardly divergent cams 14. The lower portion of the cam-structure is guided against transverse movement by guides 76 which are fixed to beams I1.

The cam-structure is vertically adjustable by means of rods 19 and nuts 88 for setting the entire cam structure into position for the operation of the tamping elements in the proper range for track rails of dififerent heights. The cam-structure is locked in its adjusted position by set screws 12 which extend through channel-beams 22 and engage the open end of post 55. The inner cams 69 positively guide the rollers 52 to control the movements of teeth 50 on shoes 46 towards each other, and the cams M act on rollers 62 to spread apart the teeth 5!! during the upward movement of the shoes 45. In this manner, the pivotal movement of the shoes is positively controlled in opposite directions. Cams 69 and M are. usually set so that rollers 54 and 62 will be finally ar rested by the ballast during the operative stroke 4 of the tamping elements, to avoid impact blows to the cam-structure.

The operation of the tamping mechanism will be as follows: the machine will be positioned on the track so that the tie under which the ballast is to be tamped will be positioned centrally below the crosshead and between the tamping elements on the opposite sides of the crosshead. Shaft 2 is continuously driven by motor I 4 through chain 3| and sprocket 3U. Shaft 24 drives sprockets 34 and chains 33 on said sprockets. Rollers 38 on chains 33 will intermittently engage abutments 39 and lift the crosshead l6 and the tamping mechanism until the rollers 33 pass off said abutments and releasethe crosshead which will drop the tamping devices. Upon release of the crosshead at the upper end of its stroke, tamping shoes 46 and teeth 50 will move vertically and rectilinearly while rollers 64 and 62 travel between the upper rectilinear members of the cam structure until thelower ends of the teeth reach approximately the top of the ballast. During the continued drop of crosshead l5, rollers 64 on the opposite sides of the crosshead will be shifted by cams 59 on post 68 to positively Swing the shoes 45 so that points of teeth 59 of opposed gangs will swing toward each other and pack the ballast under the tie and between the teeth 55. During the upstrokes of the crosshead, the cams 14 will engage rollers 52 and positively swing the shoes in reverse direction to clear the ties. In this manner, during the rectilinear vertical movements of the crosshead the tamping shoes 45 and teeth 5!! will be positively guided in a controlled path to pack the ballast under the tie and to withdraw said teeth from under the tie. The camstructure and toggle-linkages positively control the path of movement of the tamping shoes and teeth to insure the packing of the ballast under the ties.

The invention exemplifies a machine of the drop-hammer type for tamping ballast under ties in which the pivotal movement of op osed tamping elements at opposite sides of the tie are positively controlled to cause the teeth to pack the ballast under the ties. The invention also exemplifies a machine of this type in which a sin le stationarily supported cam-structure controls the path of travel of gangs of tamping elements at the opposite sides of the crosshead.

. The invention is not to be understood as limited to the details described, since these ma be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for raising and lowering the head and tamping elements for-the ballast in the cribs, fulcrumed at a fixed point on the head for vertical bodily movement and to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers during the strokes of the head, comprising, an arm fixed to swing the tamping elements transversely of the ties on their fulcrum on the head, a vertically elongated track structure stationarily mounted on the portable frame, including rails with rectilinear and cam members, and means operatively connected to a swing the arm and controlled by the rail members c nemas:

for substantially vertical rectilinear auditor pivotal movements hi the tamping *elements durlng the strokes of the head.

.In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between :railway ties,.:th e combination with-a portable frame, a head mounted .zfor-substantiall-v vertical slidin movement in the frama-mechanism for raising and lowering the .head, and tamping elements for the ballast .in the cribs, fulorumed at ,a fixed Point on the headfor vertical bodily movement and to swing transversel-y nf :the ties; f mechanism for controlling the Pivotal movement of the tampers during the strokes of the head, comprising, an arm fixed to swing the tampingelements tnansverselyof the tieson their fulcrum on thehead, a vertically elongated'trackstructure sta'tionarily mounted on the portable frame including substantially parallel rails with rectilinear and cam members, and means :operatively connected to swing the armand controlled by the rail'meinbers for rectilinear movement of the elements during the upper portion, and for pivotal movement of the elementsduring the lower portion of the strokes of the head.

.3. .In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway "ties, th e combination with .a portableframe, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, -mecha nism for raising and lowering the head, and tampingelements for the ballast in the cribs. fulcrumed .at .a fixed point on the head for vertical bod ly movement and ,to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers during the strokes of the head, comprising, an arm fixed to swing the tamping elements transversely of the ties on their fulcrum on the-head, a'rvertically-elongated trackstructure stationarily mounted on and .at substantially the transverse center of the portable frame including substantially parallel rails with rectilinear and cam members, and means operatively connected to the head for travel along the:

rails, operatively connected to swing the arm, and controlled by the rail members for rectilinear and pivotal movements of the elements during the strokes of the head.

4, In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination *with a portable frame, a head mounted :for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for raising and lowering the head, and tamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at a fixed point on the head for vertical bodily movement and to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers during the strokes of the head, comprising, an arm fixed to swing the tamping elements transversely of the ties on their fulcrum on the head, a vertically elongated trackstructure stationarily mounted on the portable frame including substantially parallel rails with rectilinear and cam members, and means operatively connected to the head for travel along the rails and including roller-means for travel along the rail-member and connected to rock said arm for rectilinear and pivotal movements of the elements during the strokes of the head. 7

5. In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for imparting lifting strokes to the head and dropping it for hammer strokes, and tamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at a fixed point on the head for vertical bodily move- 6. ment and to :swing transversely :of the tides; 50f mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of "the -tarripers during the strokes :of :the ,head, comprising, an ;arm;fixed to swing the tamping elements transversely 301" the ties 011112111811 fulcrum.

on the :head, a vertically elongated track-structure stationari-ly mounted on the portable frame including substantially parallel rails with rectilinear and cam-members, and means including roller-means, .a link connected to the head and 'to the roller-means for shifting the roller-means vertically, and a link connected to the i roller-:

' elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed swing the tamping elements at the sides of the at'a fixed point on the head for vertical bodily movement and to swing transversely-of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of "the tampers during the strokes of the head, comprising, an arm fixed to swing the tamping elements transversely of the ties on their fulcrumc-n the head, a vertically elongated trackstructure statlonarily mounted on the portable frame including substantially parallel rails with rectilinear and-oam members and a post extending vertically through the head, and means operatively connected to swing the arm, and controlled by the rail members for rectilinear and pivotal movements of the elements during the strokes of the head.

7. In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame,-

mechanism for imparting lifting strokes to the head and dropping it for hammer strokes, andtamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at fixed points on opposite sides of the head respectively, for vertical bodily movement and to swingtransversely of the ties; of mechafor controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers on the head, comprising. arms-fixedto head respectively. a vertically extending trackstructure stationarily mounted on the portable frame having a pair of substantially parallel rails at each side of the head, and means at each side of the head operatively connected to the head for travel along the rails and operatively connected to oppositely swing the arms and controlled by the rail members for rectilinear and pivotal movements of the tamping elements during the strokes of the head.

8. In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for imparting lifting strokes to the head and dropping it for hammer strokes, and tamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at fixed points on opposite sides of the head respectively, for vertical bodily movement and to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers comprising, arms fixed to swing the tamping elements at the sides ofthe head respectively, a vertically extending track structure stationarily mounted on the portable frame having a pair of substantially parallel rails at each side of the head, and means at each side of the head operatively connected to the head for travel along the rails and operatively connected to oppositely swing the arms and controlled by the rail members for controlling the tamping elements to move rectilinearly during the upper portions and pivotally during the lower portions of the strokes of the head.

9. In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for imparting lifting strokes to the head and dropping it for hammer strokes, and tamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at fixed points on opposite sides of the head respectively, for vertical bodily movement and to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers comprising, arms fixed to swing the tamping elements at the sides of the head respectively, a vertically extending track-structure stationarily mounted on and substantially at the transverse center of the portable frame having a pair of substantially parallel rails at each side of the head, and means at each side of the head operatively connected to the head for travel along the rails and operatively connected to oppositely swing the arms and controlled by the rail members for rectilinear and pivotal movements of the tamping elements during different portions of the strokes of the head.

10. In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for imparting lifting strokes to the head and dropping it for hammer strokes, and tamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at fixed points on opposite sides of the head respectively, for vertical bodily movement, and to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers comprising, arms fixed to swing the tamping elements at the sides of the head respectively, a vertically extending track structure stationarily mounted on the portable frame having a pair of substantially parallel rails at each side of the head, and means at each side of the head operatively connected to the head including roller-means for travelling along the rails and operatively connected to oppositely swing the arms and controlled by the rail members for rectilinear and pivotal movements of the tamping elements during difierent portions of the strokes of the head.

11. In a machine for tamping ballast in cribs between railway ties, the combination with a portable frame, a head mounted for substantially vertical sliding movement in the frame, mechanism for imparting lifting strokes to the head and dropping it for hammer strokes, and tamping elements for the ballast in the cribs fulcrumed at fixed points on opposite sides of the head respectively, for vertical bodily movement therewith, and to swing transversely of the ties; of mechanism for controlling the pivotal movement of the tampers comprising, arms fixed to swing the tamping elements at the sides of the head respectively, a vertically extending track structure stationarily mounted on the portable frame having a pair of substantially parallel inner and outer rails at each side of the head, rollers between the track-members, links operatively connected to the head for moving the rollers along the rails, and means at each side of the head including links controlled by the rollers and connected to oppositely swing the arms and controlled by the rail members for successive rectilinear and pivotal movements of the elements during the strokes of the head.

FRANK H. PHILBRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 748,089 Moseley Dec. 29, 1903 760,905 Moseley May 24, 1904 893,505 Iliif July 14, 1908 1,043,245 Ohman Nov. 5, 1912 1,091,984 Talarico Mar. 31, 1918 2,082,594 Philbrick June 1, 1937 2,482,123 Philbrick Sept. 20, 1949 

